Sordo Barolo Rocche di Castiglione DOCG 2011

INTRODUCTION

This vineyard is in one of the best areas in the district of Castiglione Falletto. This Barolo Riserva matures in traditional big Slavonian oak barrels and offers beautiful, complex wines archetypal of Barolo.

The grapes were harvested when fully mature and the vinification started immediately upon arriving the cellar. After destemming and soft pressing comes fermentation – which takes place at about 30°C in stainless steel tanks. This is followed by maceration using the submerged-cap method, consisting of leaving the must in contact with the skins and pips which traditionally lasts about six weeks. After racking, the ideal conditions for a perfect malolactic fermentation are created in the cellar. The wine matures in traditional big Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months and ages in the bottle before release. Barolo enjoys an extraordinary longevity.

2011 – The winter was par for the course in terms of both temperatures and rainfall, with the latter intensifying above-all in March providing a good early supply of water in the soil. High temperatures in April brought the start of the growth season forward. Between the end of June and the beginning of July average daily temperatures were not particularly high, though this did not slow down the physiological development of the vine. Very high average daily temperatures were recorded during August. As a result, the ripening of the grapes was fairly uneven, and in some areas there was an overlap in the ideal time for harvesting different varieties. For the varieties like Nebbiolo, the rain which fell during the first week of September was truly providential. Combined with the lowering of night-time temperatures, this allowed for the reaching of excellent balance in the phenolic components of the grapes, facilitating their ripening and resulting in good balance with maturity. Without question, the variety that adapted best to the vintage was, once again, Nebbiolo. The grapes arrived in the winery with all the properties sought after in this area’s great wines: low yields in the vineyard, an excellent amount of tannins and good colour, as well as a truly interesting aromatic profile.

TASTING NOTE

The colour is a splendid mixture of ruby red and garnet which boasts an amazing brilliance when in the glass. Its alcohol content is expressed through the evident legs which linger on the sides of the glass. This Barolo surprises with its intense and rich bouquet. The features of this Barolo are brought to the fore by its clean and elegant sensations – recalling mature black cherry, blue berry and peach conserve. Floral nuances, alpine hay, liquorice and tobacco notes come with ageing. Notes of berries and noble wood. In the mouth the wine starts off warm then shows all its complexity – this thanks to the powerful but smooth tannins; the result is a wine with a great ageing potential.